But earlier this month, he revealed that he was claiming he had a number of opportunities to join other clubs before committing his future to City.

Although Mancini's side are just two points behind leaders Manchester United in the Premier League table, a has left Mancini's position under scrutiny.

Mancini in management

2000: Retires from playing and becomes Sven-Goran Eriksson's assistant at Lazio

2001: Takes over at Fiorentina, leading them to Coppa Italia success

January 2002: Resigns as Fiorentina boss with the club second-bottom of Serie A

May 2002: Becomes Lazio boss

2004: Lazio win Coppa Italia

July 2004: Takes over at Inter Milan

2005: Inter win Coppa Italia and Italian Supercup

2006: Inter are awarded Serie A title when Juventus and AC Milan are punished in match-fixing scandal

2007: Inter successfully defend Scudetto

2008: Inter win third consecutive title but lose Coppa Italia final and Mancini is sacked

December 2009: Mancini replaces Mark Hughes at Manchester City

2011: City win FA Cup - their first silverware for 35 years

2012: City win their first top-flight title for 44 years by pipping rivals Manchester United on goal difference

But speaking at the North West Football Awards, where Mancini was named Manager of the Year, Vieira said the speculation is purely as a result of the club's success.

"That is a part of the game," Vieira told BBC Radio Manchester. "You people, the journalists, try to find the little things that will sell more papers or get more people listening to the news. We accept it, no problem at all.

"Since he [Mancini] has been at this football club, his record has been fantastic. You don't win the FA Cup or the Premier League with an average manager. You have to be good.

"Everybody says we have a good team, but you have to manage 25 players. A lot of credit must go to Mancini because he has worked hard to bring silverware to the football club."

City have yet to win in the Champions League this season and lie bottom of their group with an extremely slim chance of reaching the knockout stages.

"Of course we didn't help ourselves and do ourselves any favours, but the door is not completely closed," added former France international Vieira. "It is going to be difficult and not many people believe we can go through, but we have to believe.

"The Champions League is a different level and it's new for us. We're learning and I believe we're going to get better, but it will take time."